Accents
An accent mark may change the sound of a letter, the meaning of a word, replace a
letter that existed in old French, or have no perceivable effect at all. Accents are used
only on vowels and under the letter c.
• An accent aigu ( ) is only used on an e (é) and produces the sound ay, as in
“day.” It may also replace an s from old French. When you see this letter, replace
the é with an imaginary s to see if its meaning becomes more evident.
é tranger = stranger
• An accent grave (`) may be used on an à or ù where it causes no sound change,
or on an è, producing the sound of eh as in the e in “get.”
• An accent circonflexe (∧) may be placed on any vowel but causes no
perceptible sound change. It, too, often replaces a “s” from old French, which
may give a clue to the meaning of the word.
forêt = forest
• A cédille ( ) is placed under a “c” (ç), to create a soft (s) sound before the
letters a, o, or u.
ç a (sah)
• A tréma ( ) is placed on the second of two consecutive vowels to indicate that
each vowel is pronounced independently.
Noël (noh‐ ehl)
Vowels
Some vowels in French have multiple pronunciations determined by specific linguistic
rules, letter combinations, and/or accent marks, as shown in Table 1. You can always
find exceptions, however, so when in doubt, consult a dictionary. In addition, expect
sounds that are unfamiliar when vowels appear in combinations.
Nasal Sounds
French nasal sounds occur when a vowel is followed by a single n or m in the same
syllable, as shown in Table 1. You must use your nose (which should vibrate a bit) and
your mouth to make these sounds.
Consonants
The French consonants in Table 1 are pronounced the same as they are in English: b,
d, f, k, l, m, n, p, s, t, v, z. Most final French consonants remain unpronounced except
for c, r, f, and l (think of the word ca re fu l). When in doubt, consult a good dictionary.
Introduction to French I
French is a musical, romantic language, and its sounds need practice and a fair amount
of attention. Although you can make yourself understood in French despite your own
regional accent, use this chapter to help you sound as much like a native as possible.
Four areas need your undivided attention: accents, vowels, nasal sounds, and
consonants, combined with the techniques of liaison and elision. The sounds of French
vowels and nasals are quite different from the sounds you may be accustomed to in
English; for that reason, vowels and nasals require some practice to obtain good
results. Unlike English, French has accent marks that may or may not effect a change in
pronunciation. In addition, many French consonants have the same pronunciation as
those in English — only a few require additional concentration.
Keep in mind that each syllable in a French word has about equal stress, so by putting
about the same emphasis on each syllable, you get the best results possible. Slightly
stronger emphasis is placed on the last syllable of a group of words.
In addition, consider the following tips for better pronunciation:
• Speak slowly and clearly.
• Combine sounds and words for a more natural flow.
• Practice reading aloud authentic French materials.
• Listen to tapes and records to get a better feel for the sounds of the language.
• Don't be afraid to ham it up; that is, trying your best to sound like a native French
speaker.
• Pay attention to accents and nasal sounds.
Liaison and Elision
Liaison refers to the linking of the final consonant of one word with the beginning vowel
(a, e, i, o, u) or vowel sound (generally, h and y) to the following word, as in the
following example: vous imitez (voo zee‐mee‐tay).
Note how pronunciation of the final “s” of vous takes on the sound of “z” and combines
with the pronunciation of the beginning “i” of imitez.
Elision usually occurs when two vowel sounds are pronounced: one at the end of a
word and the other at the beginning of the next word. Drop the final vowel of the first
word and replace it with an apostrophe. The two words then simply slide
together: je + imite = j'imite (zhee‐meet).
Note how the final “e” (uh) sound of je (zhuh) is dropped.
